Concert to further a cause

Going green doesn’t just help save the planet, it also makes perfect business sense, says Roy Duddy, interim director of the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development. And recognizing businesses and individuals who further that philosophy is the idea behind the division’s Greenerpalooza Award.“As one of the 10 greenest states in the nation, New Hampshire is home to a number of great individuals and organizations dedicated to finding solutions for the sustainability of our planet,” Duddy said. “We look forward to receiving a lot of nominations and being able to recognize the good work that’s taking place in the Granite State.”The award is given to a New Hampshire-based person, organization or initiative dedicated to energy efficiency.It recognizes the accomplishments of those who support and promote green efforts throughout the Granite State and who work tirelessly to ensure that New Hampshire maintains its position as a state which celebrates sustainability.This year’s award will be presented Aug. 12 at Greenerpalooza III at the Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion in Gilford.Co-sponsored by Public Service of New Hampshire and Citizens Bank in coordination with the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development and media sponsor New Hampshire Business Review, Greenerpalooza III is a celebration of New Hampshire’s energy-efficiency efforts.The highlight of the event will be a concert by Grammy Award-winning musician Sheryl Crow, who has long been spreading the word about environmental awareness through activism and song. Crow will be joined by 2009 BMI Pop Award Songwriter of the Year Colbie Caillat.Over 5,000 concert-goers will not only get to enjoy a concert by a multi-platinum artist, they will also be able to visit a special eco-village on the Meadowbrook midway where vendors will be extolling the virtues of wind and solar power as well as other alternative energy sources.“Greenerpalooza has been great at opening people’s eyes to the potential of a greener, more sustainable future,” said New Hampshire Division of Economic Development Communications and Legislative Director Steve Boucher. “By using the unifying force of music, we are able to help citizens to become more energy efficient, learn about new technologies and share a positive environmental message with their neighbors.”Show headliner Crow is a founding member and one of the driving forces behind the Green Music Group, a coalition of musicians, industry leaders and fans working to inspire widespread environmental action. Crow recently encouraged her fans to accept the Green Music Group Challenge, an earth friendly call-to-action that asks music fans to send an e-mail to legislators expressing support for effective, fair environmental legislation.Crow “is an artist who isn’t afraid to take a stand and to live the message that she sends through her music.She’s truly dedicated to spreading the word that taking care of the planet is everyone’s responsibility,” said Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion Marketing Director Chris Lockwood.Greenerpalooza III has brought new partners into the fold for this year’s offering. Citizens Bank, a lending institution that has demonstrated a commitment to the community through its Champions in Action initiative as well as other charitable endeavors, has signed on as a co-sponsor, believing that encouraging sustainability fits in well with its corporate mission.“We believe that a bank should contribute to the growth and vibrancy of its communities,” said Cathy Schmidt, president of Citizens Bank New Hampshire.Also new to the event this year is the addition of the “Granite Green Team,” a virtual “green army” of volunteers who will collect recyclables at Meadowbrook concerts and distribute seed cards that contain earth friendly messages and can be planted after being read. A team of four to six representatives from PSNH, the Division of Economic Development, Citizens Bank and social media partner Epiphanies Inc. will each attend a show during the 2010 season and encourage concert goers to dispose of recyclables responsibly and to observe eco-awareness in their daily living.“This is a great new twist to Greenerpalooza,” said Pat McDermott, PSNH’s economic and community development manager. “Recycling and making energy-efficiency improvements are simple, cost-effective ways to make a big difference in protecting the environment.”Volunteers will all be clad in special T-shirts designed by Michael McGloin of Keene-based The Mountain, creator of the multimillion-selling “Three Wolf Moon” shirt. The shirts feature a lushly growing tree with a guitar for a base and limbs extending from a recycling sign as birds fly off in the distance.To submit a nominee for the Greenerpalooza Award, send a 500-word essay on the merits of the candidate to Steve Boucher at sboucher@dred.state.nh.us.Tickets to the Sheryl Crow and Colbie Caillat concert, which include entry into the eco-village, are available online at meadowbrook.net. To learn more about the latest happenings with Greenerpalooza, visit the newly created Greenerpalooza III Facebook page at facebook.com/greennh.A limited number of vendor slots for green businesses is still available. For details, contact Leslie Sherman at the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development at 603-271-2591 or lsherman@dred.state.nh.us.